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Pair charged in O'Kelly's incident

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, January 16, 2008

By Kelly Dame

Two Mount Pleasant men are facing multiple felony charges after being accused of beating a man badly enough that police initially believed he had been struck by a vehicle.

James Jerome Hunter, 19, and Raymund Demetrius Jones, 22, both from Mount Pleasant, both are charged with assault with the intent to murder, assault with the intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and armed robbery in connection to an incident that occurred outside the O'Kelly's Sports Bar and Grill.

The victim, James Ronald Williams, 21, of Mount Pleasant, was found in an alley between the business and the Stadium Mall early on New Year's Day. Evidence indicated he'd been lying there for some time before he was found.

His family offered a $20,000 reward for information in the case leading to arrest and conviction. Police and medical staff at the time thought Williams' injuries were consistent with being struck by a vehicle, said Mount Pleasant Officer Dave Sabuda.

Police said the suspects were identified through tips and investigation, and that Williams' injuries were the result of an assault, not a hit and run accident. An update on the Daily News website Wednesday afternoon erroneously reported the victim had been struck by a vehicle.

Police first hinted the incident was a physical assault last week, adding they were hoping to speak with Williams this week.

"It looks like a bar fight that went too far," Sabuda said.

The pair have been arraigned and bond for each was sent at $900,000 cash. They remain inmates at the Isabella County Jail.

Williams has been released from a Saginaw hospital and is being treated at a physical rehabilitation facility